Arthur still didn't know if Dr. Erskine's trip to New York was over. However, his own trip to New York ended a little earlier than expected.
That evening, Colonel Phillips, Agent Carter, Arthur, and even Howard left for London. The reason was that Colonel Phillips and the President had spoken on the phone that afternoon. They were being transferred to London to join the fight against Hydra!
As a result, the promised dance turned out to be just the doctor.
Before leaving, Dr. Erskine complained to Arthur, "The Colonel is stubborn. He thinks it is more dangerous for you to stay behind. Going to the battlefield and operating with the main force will actually make you safer. That is why he even found me a new bodyguard. Of course, I don't deny that your skills are best used on the battlefield. It's true that protecting an old man like me is beneath you. But why can't you wait just one night?"
At this point, Dr. Erskine proudly declared, "Arthur, I am an influential figure now. I am definitely the center of attention at this dance. If you could attend, with my influence, I could definitely introduce you to a gorgeous lady with a great... personality!"
"I think you missed the point..." Arthur's face darkened when he heard these words and the words he didn't hear but could understand.
For some reason, the face of Agent Carter next to him darkened as well.
"Hahaha!" The doctor laughed heartily, then hugged Arthur before saying. "I'll miss you."
"I will too." Arthur's heart felt a little melancholy.
Although their time together hadn't been long, Dr. Erskine hadn't treated him like a stranger. He was not just seen as a bodyguard, but more like a nephew with whom he could share his innermost thoughts. He shared almost all of his life's knowledge without reservation.
Due to time constraints, Arthur could only grasp the basics...
But now, as they were about to part ways, Arthur's heart was filled with reluctance.
Glancing at Steve standing next to the doctor, Arthur instructed, "Take good care of the doctor's safety."
"Yes, Sir!" Steve replied seriously.
This made Arthur sigh, "He's really grown up… his voice has even gotten louder."
The entire face of the future captain began to twitch. The doctor laughed heartily and Agent Carter's lips curved into a smile.
The car was ready. After waving goodbye, Agent Carter started the car.
"I thought I could go to a dance for once, you know, I've never danced before," Arthur said casually to Agent Carter as he watched Dr. Erskine wave goodbye in the rearview mirror.
"Well, you're lucky we weren't there. My feet would be killing me tonight," Agent Carter replied, pursing her lips.
"No need to be so reluctant. Once the doctor tweaks the Super Soldier Serum and makes the birth of the super-soldier more concise, he will rejoin us," Agent Carter reassured.
"In the future... there will be a lot of guys going through 'second puberty' just like Steve, right?" Arthur looked out the window.
"Why do you always use such unique terms..." Agent Carter sighed. "Have you ever thought about 'going through a second puberty' yourself?"
Arthur said nothing, but his silence was clear.
"I wonder why you're so stubborn..."
"Maybe it's because I am a little worried..." Arthur said, "The doctor mentioned that the Super Soldier Serum enhances your personality. The nicer you are, the nicer you become. The more evil you are, the more evil you become... If I used the Super Soldier Serum, what do you think would happen?"
Agent Carter shook her head in confusion.
Arthur sighed, "I'm afraid my head will open a physical wormhole..."
After this unproductive conversation, the group flew from New York... to London.
The Next Day!
Just as they arrived in London, Arthur was still packing his bags when Agent Carter called him into the office.
"Take a look at this..." Colonel Phillips handed Arthur a newspaper with a grim expression on his face.
The first thing that caught his eye was a photo of Steve using a car door as a shield.
When he read the news, it was about a spy infiltration and the pursuit of the Super Soldier.
"When did this happen?" Arthur's face turned grim as he saw this. The picture of Steve in the newspaper was almost identical to how he looked when he was chasing Fred in the movie. It gave Arthur a bad feeling.
"Last night," Agent Carter gently touched Arthur's arm as she spoke.
Arthur was silent for a moment, looking at Colonel Phillips and then at Agent Carter. Finally, he sighed softly, "You're trying to tell me... Dr. Erskine, that old geezer, got into trouble, did he?"
"The doctor was murdered at the dance party last night by an infiltrating spy," Agent Carter said quietly.
Arthur felt a little dazed for a moment. The doctor's words were still fresh in his mind. Just before they left yesterday, he had mentioned introducing him to a beautiful woman at the dance.
And today... he was already dead?
...
As they left Colonel Phillips' office, Agent Carter followed cautiously at Arthur's side, as if afraid he might do something foolish.
Arthur looked at her helplessly, "Can I have some time alone? I need to be alone..."
Agent Carter could only nod without asking who he meant by 'alone'.
Arthur did not go on a rampage but simply returned to his room.
He turned around and retrieved the Super Soldier Serum from the Disassembler Space.
Since it didn't jump out of the Disassembler to assert its existence, Arthur couldn't disassemble it himself, at least not yet.
Of course, that wasn't Arthur's intention.
He just thought of the doctor's previous words, "They think I can bring them more," and the fleeting relief on the doctor's face when he handed over that last vial of serum...
"Could it be that the doctor already anticipated this?" Arthur suddenly gripped the serum tightly, but finally sighed softly, "Old man... your death was too sudden, wasn't it? What about the promise of the beautiful woman? Does this count as breaking a promise?"
...
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